Replies to This ADM Discussion

Which Site is it that you are trying to optimize for?
Are you signed off of your Google Account (This can and will change the results that you see)?

I am not an SEO Master but I try to learn and improve every day. Just from some of the input that you posted. It could be that you are simply optimizing with the 95 in your title. You are also increasing the competition for the 1st page when you remove the 95 from your title. You need to try some keyword research and see how many of your customers are typing with the 95 or not. There's a lot more to it than that but at least its a starting point.

It may seem like those two search phrases are "close" to being the same but they are not. When you take away the 95 and search "Saab Ottawa" this becomes a much broader search. This broader search now includes more websites that are exact matches. In the larger list, you don't rank high enough for that broader term.

Now if you create a number of credible links from external websites that point to your main site, and if you optimized your site better for this broad phrase, you could expect your site to appear. I hope this explanation helps but this is a very common behavior in Google.

The more words in the keyword phrase, the easier it is to rank. "Saab 95 Ottawa" is very specific and therefore the number of competing pages is lower than "Saab Ottawa" which is much broader. I'm not surprised at all by this.

If you want to rank higher for "Saab Ottawa" you need to get more backlinks to your site with that phrase in the anchor text. That's it.

The more words in the keyword phrase, the easier it is to rank. "Saab 95 Ottawa" is very specific and therefore the number of competing pages is lower than "Saab Ottawa" which is much broader. I'm not surprised at all by this.

Good answers all around!

The only additional piece of information that I think is worth pointing out is that yes it is good to rank for more general terms in order to take advantage of higher search volumes but ranking for more extended exact searches (called long-tail terms) is also very valuable because they will have a higher conversion rate. For example in your case, say you stock older used Saab parts, you will probably make more sales if you get 10 visitors for the term 95 Saab Ottawa, than if you got 25 visitors for the term Saab Ottawa. But remember, search engine optimization is far from an exact science so your mileage may vary :-)

Welcome toAutomotive Digital Marketing
Please use the "Sign Up" link above to complete your registration form and become a member of the industry's leading Automotive Marketing and Internet Sales Professional Community. ADM members have access to resources, connections and private events that provide them with a competitive advantage.